Whether you’re the adventurous type or not, I don’t think any traveler would pass up the chance to see an active volcano eruption. It’s a bucket list item that many have had on their lists and may never get to check off for their whole lives—but it just so happens that right now, Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland is erupting for the first time in 6,000 years. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…not just once in a lifetime, but in many, many lifetimes. Here’s everything you need to know about this natural wonder.
About the Fagradalsfjall Eruption
The volcano began erupting on March 19, 2021 and is still actively spewing lava today. In fact, because it is considered a shield volcano eruption, scientists predict that it may continue to erupt for several years. The eruption, named Geldingadalsgos or Geldingadalur eruption, can even be seen from the capital of Reykjavik and indeed is only located a short drive (around an hour tops) from the city. It is also not particularly dangerous to residents, unlike a previous volcanic eruption in the area that dispersed so much volcanic ash that it temporarily halted the air traffic across Europe. Because of its proximity and relative ease of access, it has become a popular place for residents and tourists alike to hike to the volcano and watch the eruptions.
Basic Hike Information
Hike time: 1.5 hours one-way
Hike difficulty: Moderate/hard—occasionally very steep, extremely slippery and windy
Items to bring: warm/heavy coat, camera, telephoto/zoom lens, tripod, shoes with good traction, hiking poles
Driving to the Eruption Site
Icelandic officials have done a terrific job on a short notice of developing trails and parking areas so people can hike to the eruption site. If you simply put in “Fagradalsfjall volcano” into Google Maps, it’ll take you to the areas where officials have laid out rudimentary parking areas to start your hike. You don’t necessarily need a 4-wheel drive to get to the parking areas, but when we were there it was extremely muddy and rather difficult to park since you’re parking on grass, so it might be worth considering if you’re already thinking about getting a 4WD vehicle.
Want to know more about driving in Iceland and other things you need to know? Check out my 7 Things You Need to Know Before Going to Iceland.
Hiking the Erupting Volcano
Once you start walking on the trail, you’ll reach a fork in the road about 10 minutes in. The left fork will take you only another 10 minutes down to see the enormous black lava field, which is still growing by the hour. You can see the heat shimmer over the lava and see the gases exhaled out of the cracks in the cooled rock! We even saw people trying to stand on the cooled lava field…I don’t think I have to explain why that’s not a very good idea. Please don’t do it, leave the lava alone.
There are no railings or signs, so you are free to walk around the edge of the lava field as you like. As massive as it looks from the bottom, it’s even more impressive from the air, so I suggest after a pit stop at the lava field, you hike up the other fork to see the actual eruption and the enormous blankets of lava covering the earth from the top.
The right fork, up to the peak of the mountain and the most popular place to watch the volcano, is a difficult hike. It’s not long, clocking in at probably around 2 miles, but extremely slippery and windy. The trail is almost entirely comprised of loose, sandy rock, so it’s easy to slip even if you have good shoes. I slipped at least a dozen times in the round trip. Luckily no falls, but it made for very slow going because I was basically shuffling along an inch at a time.
The hills are also extremely steep—no one has calculated the numbers for sure, but I took some photos of the slopes and some of them look to be around 25-30 degree inclines. Couple that with the nonexistent footing and the ridiculously strong winds, and you have yourself a slow, arduous hike.
The wind is definitely no joke either. Even in my winter coat and with a double layer of leggings and the effort of fighting the wind up a steep slope, I was still cold. In fact, the wind was so strong that it was physically pushing me around, making me stumble and slide everywhere. Now, I’m a petite girl and definitely land on the lighter end of the scale. But I’m pretty sure those still count as extremely strong winds. At the peak, the wind is obviously even stronger. If you’re planning on taking photos of the volcano with a tripod you NEED to have enough weight and stability on it so that it won’t shake or even blow over.
To the peak, the hike only takes about an hour and a half, but it felt like one of the longest 1.5 hour hikes of my life! But coming up over the crest of the hill, and seeing the enormous valley covered in black and glowing red lava, was entirely worth it. You can see the lava bursting from the crater, bubbling and frothing inside, and flowing down the sides of the cone to join the already-massive spread of cooled lava that has completely taken over the valley. Seeing it in person is hypnotic and just so incredibly otherworldly. You’ll sit there on the rocks, buffeted by the wind, and wonder how we ever came to exist on a planet with such powerful forces as this.
The volcano is still erupting and constantly changing its landscape like a living, breathing being. Witnessing it in front of your eyes is an experience that words cannot do justice. It’s certainly one of the most unique things I’ll ever see in this lifetime.
